module specification

This module introduces students to the history of journalism, honourable and dishonourable, and to the roles it has played and continues to play in society.
Understanding will be underpinned by knowledge of the importance of ethical, public interest journalism in its codified current form, and inspired by journalistic exemplars from previous generations.

Focusing on the UK, but blending wider international perspectives, you will build an understanding of the qualities needed by ethical journalists to taker on vested interests. Particular emphasis will be placed in the importance of diversity in media, its development in the UK over time, and current state, thus reflecting the university’s commitment to decolonisation of curriculum and social justice. This content will be used to develop transferable skills of critical thinking and analysis, crucial to employability.

It will also highlight ethical concerns, and take account of wider, global issues and contexts.
Political accounts, investigations that have transformed lives, human interest stories, arts reviews, in-depth profiles, cartoons, speculative columns, hot gossip, sports, fashion, celebrity… and now, for something completely different! What does it all mean and why do we produce and consume it? By the end of the module, students won’t necessarily have any answers, but they should be able to ask much better questions and have developed critical and analytical skills.
Working together, individually and in small groups, students explore major events and stories, past and present. They develop skills of presentation and analysis, learning when to use academic writing and when the more vivid narrative of journalism can play an equally effective role.  In addition, they will explore critically and practically, the techniques used in writing and broadcasting of the past so that they can better develop their own professional capacities in the future.

Discussion, presentations, research, screenings and visits will all play a part in the development of critical thinking skills, which will be workshop-based.
The module will be assessed by three essays and contributions to an online journal, which is moderated by tutors at the end of the year.

This entire syllabus is aimed at the development of critical, analytical thinking and expression ULO, LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Students begin by identifying how journalism differs from academic writing, and the purposes of both.
The course goes on to describe the scope of media today, identifying audiences for media organisations, and discussing how journalism is used by: politicians, consumers, advertisers, proprietors, social media users. LO1, LO4

Students identify how British journalism began, tracing the main stages in its evolution, from pamphlets to the BBC and multi-nationals and then discussing the main values of journalism (truth, balance, perspective), setting these within the contexts of society and, importantly, ethics. They will also survey ethical, legal and political constraints, worldwide. LO1, LO2, LO4

They explore and dissect, through analysis and practice, some great journalism of the past and present; they then learn to use its techniques in their own practice, in action research. LO3, LO4

Through screenings, visits and guest speakers, students gain personal experiences which will deepen their understandings of the journalistic field and its agents. Regular discussions which discuss issues raised by guest speakers will develop collaboration and critical thinking. ULO, LO3, LO4

Through collaborations and exercises in class, they will develop social skills needed in the quickfire world of journalism. ULO

Finally, through writing on these theories, histories and key texts, they will sharpen their writing and presentation skills through reflective processes and feedback from staff and other students. ULO

Learning and teaching strategy will be based on an interactive model.

For most of the teaching weeks, a three-hourly session will require students to listen to exposition, write and to speak, to work with each other and individually. They will also need to take notes, present independent research and ideas and contest information presented by staff and each other.

Regular guest speakers will present issues to be discussed weekly and commented on in journals. These discussions will form part of the class contribution assessment.

During  newsweeks, guest speakers and screenings will complement one-to-one tutorial and coaching sessions.

Feedback will be given one-to-one in class and electronically. Electronic resources, including the university’s weblearn tools, will be used by students and staff.
The aim is to develop transferable social as well as academic skills, with a view to employability.

The module will be supported by a VLE site containing notes, readings, and extended bibliographies, and weblinks.

If students read all the required texts, participate in all the class activities and complete the required assessments and assignments, they will develop transferable skills.

They should be able to:
1. Through written work and presentations, demonstrate a familiarity with the history and contexts of journalism, including ethical issues;
2. Use the historical examples discussed in class to explain current affairs and developments in journalism;
3. Employ the ideas and works of others to substantiate and illuminate their own ideas, through oral and written presentation;
4. Write academic essays, following the norms of presentation, structure and referencing and using analytical argument;

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